Richardson became an independent oil producer in Fort Worth in 1919. His finances fluctuated widely and he accumulated wealth and lost it several times during the 1920’s. He was well established as a millionaire by 1935, when he opened up the rich Keystone oilfield in Winkler County. From his suite of offices in Fort Worth he individually leased more oil land than did several major oil companies, operated three cattle ranches, and owned the Texas State Network (a radio and television organization), a carbon black plant at Odessa, and the Texas City Refining Company.